Basketball Intelligence For 5/4/22
Basketball Intelligence For 5/4/22
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
PLAYOFFS, ROUND TWO
- Daily Results (from Law Murray, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3292850/2022/05/04/nba-playoffs-daily-results-celtics-grizzlies-game-2/
- BOS 109, MIL 86:
From Ben Cohen, Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ime-udoka-boston-celtics-coach-nba-playoffs-11651639543
From Jay King, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3292851/2022/05/04/jaylen-brown-locked-in-on-a-goal-shows-the-way-for-celtics-in-game-2/
From Eric Nehm, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3292984/2022/05/04/giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-celtics-game-2/
From Jared Weiss, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3292733/2022/05/04/celtics-beat-bucks-game-2/
From Dan Devine, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2022/5/4/23056617/celtics-bucks-nba-playoffs
From Trevor Hass, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/5/4/23056279/boston-celtics-milwaukee-bucks-nba-playoffs-al-horford-versatility-giannis-antetokounmpo
From Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/04/sports/celtics-were-determined-that-game-2-against-bucks-would-not-be-repeat-series-opener/ and https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/03/sports/jaylen-brown-celtics-couldnt-miss-early-game-2-win-over-bucks-other-observations/
From Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/04/sports/ime-udoka-made-all-right-adjustments-celtics-come-away-with-game-2-win/
From Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/columnist/jeff-zillgitt/2022/05/04/jaylen-brown-underrated-star-nba-playoffs-celtics-win-bucks/9640478002/
From Ben Golliver, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/04/ja-morant-grizzlies-warriors-game-2/
From Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass: https://behindthebuckpass.com/2022/05/04/takeaways-milwaukee-bucks-vile-game-2-loss-chicago-bulls-2
From Darren Hartwell, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/why-grant-williams-vs-giannis-antetokounmpo-could-decide-celtics-bucks-series
From Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo Sports: https://sports.yahoo.com/jaylen-brown-jayson-tatum-and-the-celtics-blow-out-bucks-to-even-series-013434391.html
From Souichi Terada, Mass Live: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/05/grant-williams-on-pestering-giannis-antetokounmpo-as-celtics-beat-bucks-in-game-2-i-view-it-as-guarding-him-on-an-island.html
From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/05/03/bhr-l-celtics-0504/
From Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/05/04/milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-struggles-early-game-2-loss-boston-celtics-in-nba-playoffs/9626650002/ and https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/2022/05/03/celtics-bounce-back-rout-bucks-game-two-even-series/9637921002/
- MEM 106, GSW 101:
From Fred Katz, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3292909/2022/05/04/ja-morant-grizzlies-game-2-warriors/
From Tim Kawakami, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3292840/2022/05/04/kawakami-dillon-brooks-broke-the-code-steve-kerr-and-the-warriors-rage-and-the-balance-that-was-tipped-in-game-2/
From Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2022/5/4/23056681/ja-morant-grizzlies-warriors-nba-playoffs
From Joe Mullinax, Grizzly Bear Blues: https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2022/5/4/23056651/witnessing-the-wrath-of-ja-morant-nba-memphis-grizzlies-playoffs
From Kendra Andrews, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33851979/memphis-grizzlies-dillon-brooks-ejected-flagrant-golden-state-warriors-gary-payton-ii
From Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/news/5-takeaways-from-grizzlies-comeback-win-in-game-2-vs-warriors
From Damichael Cole, Commercial Appeal: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/05/04/ja-morant-47-points-grizzlies-beat-warriors-even-series/9640785002/
From Brad Botkin, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/grizzlies-vs-warriors-score-ja-morant-erupts-for-47-points-to-help-memphis-tie-series-in-game-2/live/
From Michael Shapiro, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2022/05/04/ja-morant-breakout-grizzlies-warriors-game-2
From Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33852903/ja-morant-game-2-performance-challenges-golden-state-warriors-championship-pedigree
From Madeline Kenney, Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/05/03/warriors-steph-curry-applauds-jonathan-kumingas-ability-to-contribute-during-playoffs/ and https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/05/03/grizzlies-beat-warriors-in-intense-physical-game-2-to-even-the-series/
From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3292558/2022/05/04/five-observations-gary-payton-ii-gets-injured-ja-morant-barbecues-warriors-in-game-2/
- DAL-PHO:
From John Voita, Bright Side Of The Sun: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2022/5/3/23055153/the-phoenix-suns-should-prepare-for-the-dallas-mavericks-adjustments-playoffs
From Zach Lowe, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/33850557/lowe-why-deandre-ayton-suns-present-far-greater-challenge-luka-doncic-rudy-gobert-jazz
From Tyler Watts, The Smoking Cuban: https://thesmokingcuban.com/posts/dallas-mavericks-adjustments-2022-playoff-game-2-suns
From Damon Allred, Bright Side Of The Sun: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2022/5/3/23055398/appreciating-phoenix-suns-playoffs-mavericks-devin-bookers-playmaking-in-game-1
From Scott Rafferty, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/deandre-ayton-mavericks-vs-suns/htun5ldw0t6qjkyfwzuomzie
From Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/story/3128529/suns-mavericks-game-2-preview-tightening-screws-chess-moves/
From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2022/05/03/phoenix-suns-see-ways-improve-1-0-lead-dallas-mavericks/9637987002/ and https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2022/05/03/phoenix-suns-changed-better-when-hiring-monty-williams-may-3-2019/9637223002/
From Brad Townsend/Callie Caplan, Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2022/05/03/jalen-brunson-mavs-eased-into-game-1-vs-phoenix-resulting-in-suns-tone-setting-1st-quarter-run/
- MIA-PHI:
From Ricky O'Donnell, SBNation: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2022/5/3/23055025/sixers-vs-heat-doc-rivers-deandre-jordan-game-1-stats-video-quotes
From Tom West, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/5/4/23054940/tobias-harris-positive-sixers-game-1-heat-james-harden-joel-embiid-nba-playoffs
From Michael Kaskey-Blomain, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-playoffs-two-simple-adjustments-76ers-need-to-make-as-they-try-to-steal-game-2-vs-heat/
From Joe DiProsperos, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/5/3/23054631/deandre-jordan-insanity-sixers-heat-doc-rivers-joel-embiid-nba-playoffs
From Harrison Grimm, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/5/3/23041213/sixers-backup-center-paul-reed-charles-bassey-joel-embiid-deandre-jordan
From Keith Pompey, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/joel-embiid-injury-sixers-heat-nba-playoffs-20220503.html and https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-heat-doc-rivers-james-harden-nba-playoffs-20220504.html
From Derek Bodner, The Daily Six: https://www.dailysix.com/morning-sixers-zone-defense-game-1/
From Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3292374/2022/05/04/sixers-upon-further-review-examining-philadelphias-backcourt-struggles-and-rebounding-issues-in-game-1/
From J. Kyle Mann, The Ringer:
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
- ATL: Season Review: Kevin Huerter (from Graham Chapple, Peachtree Hoops): https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2022/5/4/23053845/2021-22-atlanta-hawks-player-review-kevin-huerter-video-offense-defense
- CHI: Roster Breakdown: Who Stays?, Who Leaves? (from KC Johnson, NBC Sports): https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/bulls-2021-22-roster-breakdown-who-stays-who-leaves
- DEN: Nuggets' Season-Ending Stats (from Tommy Knowlton, Denver Stiffs): https://www.denverstiffs.com/2022/5/4/23056069/denver-nuggets-nikola-jokic-nab-mvp-playoffs-statistics-aaron-gordon-warriors-suns
- LAC: Q & A: Xavier Moon (from Andrew Greif, LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2022-05-04/xavier-moon-on-how-clippers-helped-his-future-in-the-nba
- TOR: Ujiri's Vision For The Raptors: Patience & Growth (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3291615/2022/05/04/masai-ujiri-raptors-nba-offseason/
From Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star: https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/opinion/2022/05/03/the-raptors-future-is-bright-but-masai-ujiri-is-relentlessly-raising-the-bar-for-improvement.html
- UTA: Jared Butler's Rookie Year (from Sarah Todd, Deseret News): https://www.deseret.com/2022/5/3/23053435/utah-jazz-jared-butler-rookie-season-was-not-what-he-expected-baylor-bears-justin-zanik-quin-snyder
LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES
- NBA Head Coaching Prospects (from Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/33849936/nba-coaching-prospects-here-top-names-league-insiders-extolling-scenes
- 2022 Draft Big Board (from Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2955849-2022-nba-draft-big-board-updated-top-50-prospects
- 2022 Draft Class: Biggest Strengths & Weaknesses (from Brandon Simberg, Busting Brackets): https://bustingbrackets.com/2022/05/04/nba-draft-2022-3-biggest-strengths-weaknesses-overall-class
- 2022 Draft Prospect: Johnny Davis (from Josh Cohen, magic.com): https://www.nba.com/magic/news/2022-nba-draft-johnny-davis-strengths-and-weaknesses-20220504
- 2022 Draft Prospect: Jabari Walker (from Evan Wheeler, No Ceilings):
- Colleges Are Using NIL To Enrich Old-School Big Men In The Absence Of NBA Interest (from Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3291258/2022/05/04/nba-nil-ncaa-big-money/
FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI archives: http://basketballintelligence.net/2018/05/04/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-5418/